Mamelodi Sundowns stalwart and legendary goalkeeper Denis Onyango had been in scintillating form this season and leads the way in league clean sheets, helping the team break a record for the longest run without conceding a goal in the league.
The shot-stopper who hails from Uganda has enjoyed a successful year, winning the league and the MTN8 trophy and reaching new heights of unparalleled consistency. Onyango took the time to reflect on what has helped The Brazilians maintain their level of performance throughout the year:
“I think it’s simply because we have been working together as a team and of course having and sharing the same vision of winning as much as we can, but most importantly focusing on the job. The technical team also helps by always giving us the right information at the right time. I also think the team jelled well with the new guys and that they also knew the task ahead of them.”
With the upcoming AFCON tournament, the PSL will go on a break with local football resuming in late January with the DStv Compact Cup, this will afford Bafana Ba Style the opportunity to have a break which they would not have normally enjoyed in past years. After participating in 60 match this calendar year, Denis welcomed the opportunity to enjoy some time with loved ones and take a break from football:
“When you are at Sundowns, you don’t have much time with family and friends so I think this time around when the boys have the Christmas break it will be good for them because we normally have [so many games]. The AFCON break will be a breather for us and give us a chance to freshen up our minds and spend time with family, family is very very important for us as players.”
“I will be spending my holidays back home in Uganda with my mom and sisters and brothers. I will also be doing some charity work and giving back to the community, these are the sorts of things we learn from the Club Chairman – so I am going to give back using my foundation back homem with a few sponsors to try and give hope to the underprivileged.”
In August Onyango celebrated 10 years at Mamelodi Sundowns along with current teammate Themba Zwane and former Mamelodi Sundowns Captain Hlompho Kekana. After a decade of setting the bar between the sticks, Denis revealed what keeps him motivated to keep performing and winning with Masandawana:
“I have been at the club for a very long time, but as I have said before – I am just trying to give back to the club that has looked after me for the past ten years. Even in those few years where I was not playing first team football, the club did not abandon me or sell me – they believed in me and kept me at the club.”
“Of course the ambitions and the targets of the club and the Chairman are that we want to get the biggest trophy on the continent and this is of course the [CAF] Champions League. I’ve won it once in 2016 but I want to make history [and win it again] – this keeps me going. What’s important is to stay focused on the targets of the club, and look after myself as a person and to know that I have a responsibility to help the club win as many trophies as possible.”
There are only 3 players we should sign who can revive our ageing squad and take our game to another level and also hit the ground running like Shaulile namely,Teboho Mokoena,Du Preez and Lakay from Cape Town city.Others will be a total waste of effort,time and money.